Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of China, A

Director Philip Haas (Angels and Insects and Up at the Villa), and artist David Hockney invite you to join them on a magical journey through China via a marvelous 72-foot long 17th-century Chinese scroll. As Hockney unrolls the beautiful and minutely detailed work of art, he traces the Emperor Kangxi’s grand tour of his southern domains. Hockney’s charming and fascinating narration helps bring the bustling streets and waterfronts of three hundred years ago to life. Comparing this work with a Canaletto painting and a later Chinese scroll, Hockney spins a dazzling discourse on eastern and western perceptive and their relationship to his own artistic vision. His trip through one of China’s most magnificent artworks is a joyous adventure for all!

Reviews

"Astute. Highly entertaining. Revealing. Playful." - New York Times

“Splendid!” — Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“A demonstration of the adventure of painting, the humanity of art! Hockney is droll, perceptive, often fascinating.” — Michael Wilmington, The Los Angeles Times

“Most extraordinary! Hockney is a delightful guide. ” — San Francisco Chronicle